Day 9: Germany

Guten Tag! Heute reisen wir zum Deutschland!

Ok, that's enough German :)

 Today's menu features Meatballs with Spätzle and Schwarzwald Kirsch Kuchen (Black Forest Cherry Cake).

Meatballs with Spaetzle

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• Dash pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed beef broth, undiluted
• 1 (4 ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 cup sour cream
• 
  
• HOMEMADE SPAETZLE:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 2 quarts water or beef broth

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. 
2. In a skillet, brown meatballs; drain. Add broth, mushrooms and onion. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. 
3. Combine the flour, caraway seeds and sour cream until smooth; stir into meatball mixture. Cook over low heat until heated through and thickened, about 10 minutes. 
4. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the flour, salt, eggs and milk. Let stand for 5 minutes. 
5. In a large saucepan, bring water or broth to a rapid boil. Place spaetzle batter in a colander or spaetzle press. Holding over the boiling liquid, press batter through holds of colander. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until tender; drain. 
6. Serve meatballs and sauce over spaetzle.

Black Forest Cherry Cake

Yummmm

Ingredients

• 2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 (20 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.
4. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.
5. Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.
6. With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half. Tear one split layer into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Frost side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.

Our Opinion: The Meatballs with Spaetzle was thick and hearty as you would expect a German dish to be. It took a lot of dishes to make but we were constantly busy. It tasted good and is definitely worth a try. The Black Forest Cherry Cake was delicious! Absolutely delicious! (Make it!... right now!)